Benton County Library Summer Reading Program
Over 150 Children Visit Pearl Farm

Over 150 children gathered in the lakeside pavilion at Birdsong Resort and Marina for their second field trip with the Benton County Library's "Summer Reading Program."

The 6-week program is an annual event and open to Benton County children ages 3-8 and 9-12. Each age group has its own itinerary. This year the 9-12 year olds are concentrating on the festivities of Mardi Gras, while the 3-8 year olds enjoy a new topic each week.

On Wednesday, June 12, the youngsters visited with Bob Keast of the Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm at Birdsong Resort and Marina. "Pirate Pete" was the story of the day with a concentration on pirates and underwater treasures. They learned all about Tennessee's official state gem: the freshwater pearl, and how they are grown beneath the waters of the Tennessee River.

The group enjoyed Bob's "mini tour" about growing pearls, then their story of pirates. Birdsong fed the youngsters hotdogs, lemonade and popsicles, before they began construction of their pirate costumes.

Over the next few weeks Clifford the Big Red Dog will visit, they will meet "Longfellow" in the American Red Cross "A Whale of a Tale," see "Reptile Man," and enjoy a Hawaiian luau.

Photo: ENJOYING A HOT DOG - These two little girls were amongst 155 children from the Benton County Library Summer Reading Program who journeyed to the Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm at Birdsong Resort and Marina, Wednesday, June 11 for a field trip. The theme for the day was "Pirates and Underwater Treasures." They read "Pirate Pete" and learned all about the freshwater pearls grown right beneath our Tennessee River waters. Bob Keast, owner, treated the group to hot dogs, lemonade and popsicles before they made their pirate costumes to match the day's activities.





HOTDOGS - Rhonda Tippett, Benton County Library Reading Program Coordinator (left) and Bob Keast, Birdsong Resort and Marina - Tennessee Freshwater Pearl Farm owner (right), pass out hotdogs to all the children who attended the "Underwater Treasures" program.



















UNDERWATER TREASURES Benton County Library Summer Reading Program group listened to the tales of pirates and underwater treasures with "Pirate Pete." After the story, they enjoyed Bob Keast, Birdsong Resort and Marina, tell yet another story about the underwater treasures found right here in Benton County at The Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm.









For more information about the Benton County Library's Summer Reading Program, call Rhonda Tippett at 731-584-4772. For more information about Birdsong Resort and Marina and The Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm, visit www.BirdsongResort.com, www.TennesseeRiverPearls.com or call 731-584-7880.